System and method for electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location

ABSTRACT

A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of electroniccommunications and specifically to techniques for electroniccommunications between users in a similar geographic location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic communications services, such as Twitter, use the Internet todisplay user-input messages to the global base of Internet users, whochoose which specific messages they choose to read based on personalcriteria, such as topic or author.

Other methods of electronic communication, such as electronic mail,Yahoo! Messenger or Facebook Messaging use the Internet to allow a userto send messages that are transmitted instantly to one or morerecipients that the user must specify.

Mobile devices have their own methods of electronic communications, suchas SMS or MMS text messaging between devices. A user must specify one ormore recipients, and create and send a text message which is transmittedinstantly to the mobile devices of the one or more recipients.

Currently, there are no existing systems for distributing user-inputmessages to all users of the system in a predetermined geographiclocation without the need for the sender of the message to create a listof specific recipients. There is a need, therefore, for techniques thatallow users to create messages that are instantly accessible by users ina similar geographic location.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Within the context of this invention, the terms “web site,” “web site'sURL,” and “web site's IP address” are considered interchangeable.

Described herein is a method, system and computer implementation forproviding users in a similar geographic location with electroniccommunications.

Specifically, a user is allowed to submit a message using a mobiledevice or web browser, where the geographic location of the mobiledevice or web browser is associated with the message. The geographiclocation of the mobile device is determined by external devices, such asGPS satellites and cell sites, and the geographic location of the webbrowser is determined by a plurality of methods, including third partysoftware, such as Google Loader, or external devices, such as routers.The geographic location of the web browser can also be determined basedon the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The user canalso submit electronic media such as photographs and videos to beattached to or associated with the message. The user can also positionthe message and any electronic media attachments on the screen of themobile device as a graphics overlay on the live video stream output ascaptured by the integrated camera of the mobile device to create agraphic associated with that geographic location.

According to another embodiment, the user is allowed to input thegeographic location in addition to the message, thus specifying thegeographic location of the intended recipients of the message.

After the message is submitted, it is electronically distributed tousers of the system using mobile devices or web browsers in geographiclocations within a predetermined distance of the geographic locationassociated with the message. The message can be transmitted to mobiledevices via push notification or SMS/MMS messaging. The message can alsobe received by a mobile device via scheduled or manual download. Themessage can also be received by a web browser. The message can also betransmitted to recipients via email. The message can also be transmittedto third party applications, such as Twitter or Facebook.

According to another embodiment, the message is distributed to themobile device of a user when geographic location attributable to themobile device is the same as the geographic location associated with themessage. The message is received by the mobile device via scheduled ormanual download once the geographic location of the mobile devicematches the geographic location associated with the message. The messagecan also be transmitted to the mobile device via push notification orSMS/MMS messaging once the geographic location of the mobile devicematches the geographic location associated with the message. The messagecan also be displayed as a graphics overlay on the live video streamoutput of the integrated camera of the mobile device.

In keeping with various embodiments, a method is provided for ratingusers. The method includes receiving a user input comprising a numericalrating of a user in accordance with predetermined criteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 depicts a system for providing electronic communications betweenusers in a similar geographic location;

FIG. 2A depicts a method for creating a new message;

FIG. 2B depicts a method for displaying messages with associatedgeographic locations within a predetermined range of a mobile device orweb browser attributable to at least one recipient;

FIG. 2C depicts a method for displaying messages with associatedgeographic locations with the same geographic location as a mobiledevice or web browser attributable to at least one recipient;

FIG. 2D depicts a main messages table for storing user-input messagesand their associated categories and geographic locations;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary user interface for inputting a new message;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary user interface for viewing a list ofuser-input messages;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary user interface for viewing a detailed userprofile;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary user interface for inputting and positioninga new message on the live video stream output from the integrated cameraof a mobile device; and

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary user interface for viewing user-inputmessages on the live video stream output from the integrated camera of amobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now turning to the drawings and referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 isdepicted therein according to one embodiment of the invention forproviding user-initiated electronic communications between users in asimilar geographic location with user-input messages stored in acomputer readable medium of a digital database.

System 100 includes an application server 114 for providing web-basedapplication services for user-initiated electronic communicationsbetween users in a similar geographic location. Specifically, theapplication server 114 includes one or more computer readable media 116that store computer code for executing instructions comprising web-basedapplication services. The computer codes for implementing the web-basedapplication is executed by the application server 114 that is accessedby a user terminal 112 via a web browser over a network 108, such as theInternet or an intranet. As further shown in FIG. 1, a user terminal canalso take form of a cell phone or smart phone 118 connected to theInternet 108 through a wireless connection 120. Similarly, the cellphone or smart phone 118 can access the application server 114 throughthe Internet 108 and render a mobile web browser or mobile deviceapplication interface for providing the electronic communicationsfunctionalities described herein.

The web-based application is coded in a browser-supported language (suchas HTML, JavaScript, Java, etc.) and relies on a common web browser(such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) to render theapplication on the user terminal 112. In particular, when accessing theweb-based application services provided by the application server 114,the user 110 starts a web browser on the user terminal 112 and inputs aURL or an IP address associated with the web-based application. Inresponse to the connection request, the application server 114 transmitsprogram codes in the form of the browser-supported language to the userterminal 112. Upon being executed by the web browser running on the userterminal 112, the program codes instruct the web browser to render userinterfaces to interact with the user 110. According to the variousembodiments, the user interfaces are designed to allow users to inputelectronic messages, to input electronic media files, such as photos andvideos, and to allow users to read electronic messages and accesselectronic media files input by users in a specific geographic location.The electronic communication between users in a similar geographiclocation is further discussed below.

The user 110 can also access the web-based application services using amobile device application. The mobile device application is coded in amobile device-supported language (such as Java, Objective C, etc.) andrelies on a common mobile device operating system (such as iOS, Android,Windows Mobile, etc.) to render the application on mobile device 118. Inparticular, when accessing the web-based application services providedby the application server 114, the user 110 starts the mobile deviceapplication on mobile device 118, which connects to a URL or an IPaddress associated with the web-based application. In response to theconnection request, the application server 114 transmits a data responseto the mobile device 118. The mobile device application running on themobile device 118 renders user interfaces to interact with the user 110based on the data response received from server 114. According to thevarious embodiments, the user interfaces are designed to allow users toinput electronic messages, to input electronic media files, such asphotos and videos, and to allow users to read electronic messages andaccess electronic media files input by users in a specific geographiclocation. The electronic communication between users in a similargeographic location is further discussed below.

The application server 114 further includes a database 116 for storingelectronic user-input messages. The database 116 includes a plurality oftables for storing the messages. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2D, oneof these tables is a main messages table 270 for storing the messagesinput by all of the users of the system 100. The main messages tablestores the messages input by each user and the geographic location ofthe mobile device or web browser used by each user to submit the messageat the time the message was submitted. The geographic location is storedin degrees latitude and longitude. The main messages table also storesthe date and time that the message was submitted. For example, the user“mike18” submitted two different messages on two different days, fromtwo different locations.

The database 116 can take forms of SQL database, OQL databases,proprietary databases, or other commercially available databases wellknown to one skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 depicts a process 200, when executed by the web application,instructs the server 114 to receive user-input messages. The process 200also instructs the server 114 to return specific messages based on thegeographic location of the user requesting the messages. In keeping withthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, the process 200 first instructs theserver 114 to receive a user-input message and the geographic locationdata attributable to the mobile device or web browser used by the userto submit the message (step 202). The geographic location of a mobiledevice is determined by external devices, such as GPS satellites andcell sites, and the geographic location of a web browser is determinedby a plurality of methods, including third party software, such asGoogle Loader, or external devices, such as routers. The geographiclocation of the web browser can also be determined based on the IPaddress of the computer running the web browser. The process 200extracts the longitude and latitude from the geographic location data(step 204). The user-input message and the associated longitude andlatitude are added to the main messages table 270 as a new entry (step206).

Alternatively, the geographic location data may be input by the user. Inkeeping with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, the geographic locationdata received by server 114 would be input by the user at the same timeas the message (step 202). The geographic location data can be input inseveral formats, including but not limited to longitude and latitude,zip code, or telephone area code.

In keeping with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, a category, such as“Sales”, “Events”, or “Emergency”, may be input by the user or selectedby the user from a predetermined list at the same time as the messageand received by the server 114 at the same time as the message (step202). The user-selected category is added to the main messages table270, along with the user-input message, and the longitude and latitude.

In keeping with this embodiment, the user-input message may beautomatically submitted to one or more third-party applications, such asTwitter and Facebook. For example, in the case of Twitter, uponsubmitting the message, the user may be prompted for a Twitter usernameand password to log in to Twitter using the Twitter oAuth API. Afterlogging in, the message would be posted automatically as a new “Tweet”under the account of the user, along with all electronic mediaattachments, such as photo or video. In the case of Facebook, uponsubmitting the message, the user may be prompted for a Facebook usernameand password to log in to Facebook using the Facebook Connect API. Afterlogging in, the message would be posted automatically to the FacebookWall of the user as a new status update, along with all electronic mediaattachments, such as photo or video.

FIG. 2B illustrates the process 220, when executed by the webapplication, instructs the server 114 to return all messages within apredetermined geographic range. According to FIG. 2B, a user command orautomated command comprising a request for messages is received (step222). The user command or automated command is submitted by the user viamobile device or web browser and contains geographic location data fromthe mobile device or web browser. The longitude and latitude isextracted from the geographic location data (step 224). The server 114calculates the maximum longitude and minimum longitude and the maximumlatitude and minimum latitude to create a predetermined location range(step 226). For example, if the geographic range is predetermined to betwo miles, the server 114 would calculate the number of degrees oflongitude and number of degrees of latitude corresponding to one mile atthe longitude and latitude of the user (the delta of the longitude andthe delta of the latitude). One skilled in the art would recognize thatthese equations will vary based on the geographic location of the user.The delta of the longitude would be subtracted from the longitude of theuser to create the minimum longitude, and the delta of the longitudewould be added to the longitude of the user to create the maximumlongitude. Similarly, the delta of the latitude would be subtracted fromthe latitude of the user to create the minimum latitude, and the deltaof the latitude would be added to the latitude of the user to create themaximum latitude. The server 114 checks the main messages table todetermine if there are messages present that need to be returned (step228). If not, a “no messages” status is returned (step 230). Messagesthat need to be returned may include all messages, all messages thathave not yet been returned to the user, or all messages received afterthe most recent date that the user requested messages. If messages arepresent, the server retrieves the first message (step 232) anddetermines if the longitude associated with the message is greater thanthe minimum longitude and less than the maximum longitude, and if thelatitude associated with the message is greater than the minimumlatitude and less than the maximum latitude (step 234), thus fallingwithin the predetermined location range. If the geographic locationassociated with the message falls within the predetermined locationrange, the message is returned to the user (step 236). If not, themessage is not returned (step 238). The server 114 checks the database116 for additional messages that need to be returned to the user (step228). Alternatively, the server 114 can instruct the database 116 toreturn a single database recordset comprising all messages that fallwithin the predetermined location range. The server 114 distributes themessages contained within the database recordset to the user.

Alternatively, if the geographic location associated with a message wasinput by the original sender as a telephone area code, the message wouldbe returned to all users with phone numbers containing that area code.

In keeping with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2B, the server 114 wouldfurther receive a category, such as “Sales”, “Events” or “Emergency”,input by the user or selected by the user from a predetermined list(step 222). The server 114 checks the main messages table to determineif there are messages corresponding to the user-selected categorypresent (step 228). If messages are present, the server retrieves thenext message (step 232). If not, a “no messages” status code is returned(step 230). Alternatively, the server can instruct the database 116 toreturn a single database recordset comprising all messages correspondingto the user-selected category that fall within the predeterminedlocation range. The server 114 then distributes the messages containedwithin the database recordset to the user.

In an alternative embodiment, the user would input a desired geographiclocation. For example, a user located in Chicago would be able to viewmessages associated with Los Angeles by inputting the geographiclocation information for Los Angeles. The geographic location data canbe input in several formats, including but not limited to longitude andlatitude, zip code, or telephone area code.

FIG. 2C illustrates an alternative embodiment, process 250, whenexecuted by the web application, instructs the server 114 to return allmessages at the same geographic location. According to FIG. 2C, a usercommand or automated command for requesting messages is received (step252). The user command or automated command is submitted by the user viamobile device or web browser and contains geographic location data fromthe mobile device or web browser. The longitude and latitude isextracted from the geographic location data (step 254). The server 114checks the main messages table to determine if there are messagespresent that need to be returned (step 256). If not, a “no messages”status is returned (step 258). Messages that need to be returned caninclude all messages, all messages that have not yet been returned tothe user, or all messages received after the last date that the userrequested messages. If messages are present, the server retrieves thefirst message (step 260) and determines if the longitude and latitudeassociated with the message are equal to the longitude and latitudeextracted from the geographic location data received from the user (step262). If the longitudes and latitudes are equal, the message is returned(step 264). If not, the message is not returned (step 266). The serverchecks the database 116 for more messages (step 256). Alternatively, theserver 114 can instruct the database 116 to return a single databaserecordset comprising all messages with associated longitudes andlatitudes equal to the longitude and latitude extracted from thegeographic location data received from the user. The server 114 thendistributes the messages contained within the database recordset to theuser.

In keeping with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2C, the server 114 wouldfurther receive a category, such as “Sales”, “Events” or “Emergency”,input by the user or selected by the user from a predetermined list(step 252). The server 114 checks the main messages table to determineif there are messages corresponding to the user-selected categorypresent (step 256). If messages are present, the server retrieves thenext message (step 260). If not, a “no messages” status code is returned(step 258). Alternatively, the server can instruct the database 116 toreturn a single database recordset comprising all messages correspondingto the user-selected category with associated longitudes and latitudesequal to the longitude and latitude extracted from the geographiclocation data received from the user. The server 114 then distributesthe messages contained within the database recordset to the user.

FIG. 2D illustrates an exemplary embodiment for the main messages table(270). As discussed above, the main messages table 270 shown in FIG. 2Dis a global table for storing all messages input into the system 100.The main messages table 270 includes a User ID column to store the UserID of the sender of the message, a Message Text column to store the textof the message, and a Timestamp column to store the date and time themessage was submitted. The main messages table 270 further includes aCategory column to store the user-selected category associated with themessage. The main messages table 270 further includes Longitude andLatitude columns to store the geographic location attributable to themobile device or web browser used by the sender to submit the message atthe time the message was submitted. One skilled in the art wouldunderstand that the system 100 has a plurality of tables to storeadditional user data, such as “email address”, “phone number” and thelike.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the interface to create a user-inputmessage for a mobile device application. As shown in FIG. 3, theinterface 300 includes a number of fields, such as text boxes, menus,and buttons, for the user to interact with the process 200. Inparticular, the interface 300 includes a Category button 304 for a userto select the category associated with the message. The interface 300also includes a text field 306 for the user to input the message, and asoftware QWERTY-keyboard interface 310 for the user to type thecharacters of the message. The interface 300 also includes an “AttachFile” button 308 for the user to attach an electronic file, such as anelectronic photograph or video. When the user clicks the “Send” button302, the message, category and attached photo or video is transmitted toserver 114. The geographic location of the mobile device, determined byexternal devices such as GPS satellites and cell sites, is alsotransmitted to server 114. The web application on application server 114processes the message according to the process 200 depicted in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a user interface for a user toretrieve a plurality of messages for a mobile device according to theprocess 220. As shown in FIG. 4, in response to a user command forrequesting messages, the interface 400 displays a list of messagesobtained in result field 418.

In the interface 400, each message obtained in result field 418 includesa field 402 for displaying the User ID of the user who created themessage and a field 404 for displaying a user-input electronicphotograph representing the user. The field 404 is a button that, whenclicked, displays the user interface 500 to view the detailed profileinformation of the user. The interface 400 also includes a field 410 ineach message in result field 418 for displaying the date and time of themessage. Field 410 can be displayed in several formats, such as durationof time since the message was added or a standard date and time. In thisembodiment, the interface 400 also includes a field 408 to display thecategory associated with each message.

The interface 400 further includes a field 414 for displaying the textof each message, and if an electronic file, such as a photograph orvideo, is attached, a field 416 for displaying a thumbnailrepresentation of the electronic file. The thumbnail representation 416is a button that, when clicked, displays the electronic file.

The interface 400 further includes field 406 for displaying a ratingassociated with each user as specified by the global user population. Inthis embodiment, the field 406 further includes the number of ratingssubmitted by the global user population. The rating of a user maydetermine if the messages submitted by the user are distributed to otherusers. For example, the server 114 may limit the distribution ofmessages to only messages submitted by users with ratings greater thanor equal to a predetermined rating threshold. Alternatively, the ratingthreshold may be selected by the user. The interface 400 furtherincludes field 412 for displaying the number of comments associated witheach message as input by the global user population. The field 412 is abutton that, when clicked, displays the comments associated with themessage.

FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of a user interface for a user of system100 to view the detailed profile information of another user. As shownin FIG. 5, the interface 500 displays detailed profile information forthe user “mike18”.

The interface 500 includes a field 506 for displaying the User ID of theuser and a field 504 for displaying the user-input electronic photographrepresenting the user. Interface 500 also includes a field 508 fordisplaying the user-selected gender associated with the user and a field516 for displaying a brief description as input by the user. Theinterface 500 also includes a field 510 for selecting a numerical ratingfor the user. Each star in field 510 is a button that, when clicked,submits a rating for the user. The interface 500 further includes afield 520 for displaying all messages that have been submitted by theuser. The fields that comprise field 520 are identical to the fieldsthat comprise result field 418 in the interface 400. The interface 500further includes a button 502 for sending a private message to the user.

The interface 500 further includes a button 514 for adding the user to a“Favorite Users List.” For example, if User 1 adds User 2 to his or her“Favorite Users List,” all messages submitted by User 2 are distributedto User 1, regardless of the geographic locations associated with themessages.

According to an alternative embodiment, a user can add users to a“Favorite Users List” by importing users from third party applications,such as Facebook and Twitter. For example, the server 114 can use theFacebook Connect API to access the Friends List of a user to recommendusers to add to his or her “Favorite Users List.”

The interface 500 further includes a button 518 for adding a user to a“Blocked Users List.” For example, if User 1 adds User 2 to his/her“Blocked Users List”, system 100 will not distribute any messagescreated by User 2 to User 1.

According to another embodiment, the global user population of thesystem 100 can be limited to a specific group of users. For example, acompany with offices in different locations can use the system 100 tosend messages to employees at a specific corporate office using theprocesses described in FIG. 2.

According to some other embodiment, the mobile device application mayaccess the integrated camera of a mobile device and display the livevideo stream captured by the camera to the user of the mobile device.The user may position the camera to a desired field of view and create amessage comprising text and electronic media attachments, such asuser-input graphics, photographs or video, and position the message as agraphics overlay at the desired position on the video stream. FIG. 6depicts an exemplary embodiment for a user of system 100 to create andposition a message on the video stream output of a mobile device. Theinterface 600 includes a field 606, the live video stream output of thecamera on the touch screen interface of the mobile device, forpositioning the user-input message and any user-input graphics orattachments. The interface 600 further includes a field 608 for the userto input a message and a field 610 to select the color of the text. Theinterface 600 also includes an “Attach File” button 612 for the user toattach an electronic file, such as an electronic photograph or video.The interface 600 also includes a “Draw” button 614 for the user tocreate a graphic by drawing on the touch screen interface of the mobiledevice. In this example, the message “Dave's house” with a drawing of anarrow pointing downwards has been positioned on the screen (604). Theinterface 600 also includes a “Submit” button 602 for submitting themessage to server 114. The mobile device-based application would send tothe server 114 the user-input message, any electronic media attachments,the Cartesian coordinate pair, consisting of an x coordinate and a ycoordinate, specifying the position of the graphics overlay on thescreen of the mobile device, the geographic location of the mobiledevice, and measurements from the integrated accelerometer of the mobiledevice, such as pitch, yaw, and orientation.

In keeping with this embodiment, when the geographic location of amobile device attributable to a second user is the same as thegeographic location associated with at least one user-input message, themobile device application will display the at least one message and anyassociated electronic media, such as graphics or photographs, as agraphics overlay rendered onto the live video stream captured by theintegrated camera of the mobile device, at a position on the videostream calculated by adding an offset to the Cartesian coordinate pairspecifying the position of the message on the screen associated with theat least one message, where said offset is calculated based on thedifferences between the measurements from the integrated accelerometerof the mobile device and the measurements from the accelerometerassociated with the at least one message, in addition to the geographiclocation of the user and the geographic location associated with the atleast one message. FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment for the userto view one or more messages created by other users. The interface 700includes a field 704, the live video stream output of the camera on thetouch screen interface of the mobile device, for viewing user-inputmessages and any user-input graphics or attachments. The interface 700further includes a field 706 for displaying the number of messages beingdisplayed. In this example, a User 1 (“Scott4321”) had pointed theintegrated camera of his mobile device at a house and created a messagereading “Dave's house” with a graphic of an arrow over the rendering ofsaid house on the live video stream output of said camera using themobile device application. If a User 2 stands at a similar geographiclocation as User 1, and points the integrated camera of his or hermobile device at the same house while using the mobile deviceapplication, the message “Dave's house”, the graphic of the arrow, theusername of User 1, and the date the message was created are allrendered in one graphic (702) by said mobile device application at asimilar position over the rendering of said house on the live videostream output (field 704) of said camera on the screen of said mobiledevice. One skilled in the art would recognize that the equations usedto calculate the position of the user-input message on the screen willvary based on the geographic location of the user.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A geographic-based message storage anddelivery method, comprising steps of: determining a longitude andlatitude of a first mobile transmission device; at a server, receivingfrom said first mobile transmission device a message retrieval request;determining if messages generated within a predefined x and y distancefrom said longitude and latitude of said first mobile transmissiondevice have previously been stored in a tangible storage mediumassociated with said server; selecting from said messages previouslystored in said tangible data storage medium at least one said storedmessage generated within said pre-defined x and y distance of said firstmobile transmission device, wherein said at least one selected messageoriginated from at least a second mobile transmission device; if alocation associated with at least said second mobile transmission deviceis presently unknown or has changed, polling said second mobiletransmission device for a present longitude and latitude; andtransmitting at least one said selected message, generated by saidsecond mobile transmission device within said pre-defined x and ydistance, from said data storage medium to said first mobiletransmission device; wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting tosaid first mobile transmission device, together with said at least onesaid selected message transmitted to said first mobile transmissiondevice, a Cartesian coordinate pair specifying a position at which saidmessage was displayed on a screen of said second mobile transmissiondevice for reproduction of a position at which said at least oneselected message should be displayed on a second screen associated withsaid first mobile transmission device.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid request for messages from said first mobile transmission device islimited to messages within a specific category and x and y distance froma present said longitude and said latitude, irrespective of namedlocations or topography within said distance.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein each said transmitted message is rendered as a graphic overlay,as generated on said second mobile transmission device, simultaneouswith live video from said first mobile transmission device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein an approximate location is determined foreither said first or second mobile transmission device based on IP(internet protocol) address, and said method of claim 1 is carried out;and when more precise location becomes available based on globalpositioning system data (GPS) said method of claim 1 is carried out asecond time using said more precise location data.
 5. A geographic-basedmessage storage and delivery method, comprising steps of: determining alongitude and latitude of a first mobile transmission device; at aserver, receiving from said first mobile transmission device a messageretrieval request; determining if messages generated within a predefinedx and y distance from said longitude and latitude of said first mobiletransmission device have previously been stored in a tangible storagemedium associated with said server; selecting from said messagespreviously stored in said tangible data storage medium at least one saidstored message generated within said pre-defined x and y distance ofsaid first mobile transmission device, wherein said at least oneselected message originated from at least a second mobile transmissiondevice; if a location associated with at least said first mobiletransmission device is presently unknown or has changed, polling saidfirst mobile transmission device for a present longitude and latitude;and transmitting at least one said selected message, generated withinsaid pre-defined x and y distance of said present longitude andlatitude, from said data storage medium to said first mobiletransmission device; wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting tosaid first mobile transmission device, together with said at least onesaid selected message transmitted to said first mobile transmissiondevice, a Cartesian coordinate pair specifying a position at which saidmessage was displayed on a screen of said second mobile transmissiondevice for reproduction of a position at which said at least oneselected message should be displayed on a second screen associated withsaid first mobile transmission device.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinsaid request for messages from said first mobile transmission device islimited to messages within a specific category and x and y distance froma present said longitude and said latitude, irrespective of namedlocations or topography within said distance.
 7. The method of claim 5,wherein each said transmitted message is rendered as a graphic overlay,as generated on said second mobile transmission device, simultaneouswith live video from said first mobile transmission device.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, wherein an approximate location is determined foreither said first or second mobile transmission device based on IP(internet protocol) address and said method of claim 5 is carried out;and when a more precise location becomes available based on globalpositioning system data (GPS) said method of claim 5 is carried out asecond time using said more precise location data.